Bernard "Bernie" Sanders (b. September 8, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York) is an Independent member of the U.S. Senate from the state of Vermont. Sanders was first elected to the Senate in 2006. While he considers himself a Socialist[1] and ran as an Independent, he is a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus.[2]

Sanders won re-election in 2012.[3] Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Sanders is an average Democratic member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Democratic Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Sanders was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, NY, where he also attended high school. He earned his B.S. from the University of Chicago in 1964 and went on to serve on to lecture at Harvard University and Hamilton College in New York. Sanders has also worked as a carpenter and journalist.[4]

In January 2012, Sanders was named a "Top-20 US Progressive" according to The New Statesman, a magazine based in the United Kingdom. Other members of the list include Paul Krugman, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky and Rachel Maddow.[5]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Sanders's academic, professional and political career:[6]

Issues

Political positions

Fiscal Cliff

Sanders voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by a 89/8 vote on January 1, 2013.[10]

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Bernie Sanders, click [show] to expand the section.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Bernard Sanders won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Rich Tarrant (R), Cris Ericson (I), Craig Hill (T), Pete Diamondstone (T), Peter Moss (T) and Write-in in the general election.[13]

U.S. Senate, Vermont General Election, 2006

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sanders

65.4%

171,638

Republican

Rich Tarrant

32.4%

84,924

Independent

Cris Ericson

0.7%

1,735

Vermont Green

Craig Hill

0.6%

1,536

Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

0.3%

801

Anti-Bushist Candidate

Peter Moss

0.6%

1,518

N/A

Write-In

0.1%

267

Total Votes

262,419

2004

On November 7, 2006, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Greg Parke (R), Larry Drown (D), Jane Newton (T) and a write-in in the general election.[14]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2006

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

67.5%

205,774

Republican

Greg Parke

24.4%

74,271

Democratic

Larry Drown

7.1%

21,684

Liberty Union

Jane Newton

1%

3,018

N/A

Write-In

0.1%

261

Total Votes

305,008

2002

On November 5, 2002, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William Meub (R), Jane Newton (T), Fawn Skinner (T) and Daniel Krymkowski (L) in the general election.[15]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2002

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

64.3%

144,880

Republican

William Meub

32.3%

72,813

Liberty Union/Progressive

Jane Newton

1.4%

3,185

Vermont Grassroots

Fawn Skinner

1%

2,344

Libertarian

Daniel Krymkowski

0.9%

2,033

Total Votes

225,255

2000

On November 7, 2000, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Karen Ann Kerin (R), Stewart Skrill (I), Pete Diamondstone (T), Jack Rogers (T), Daniel Krymkowski (L) and a write-in in the general election.[16]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2000

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

69.2%

196,118

Republican

Karen Ann Kerin

18.3%

51,977

Independent

Stewart Skrill

4.2%

11,816

Democratic, Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

5.3%

14,918

Vermont Grassroots

Jack Rogers

1.7%

4,799

Libertarian

Daniel Krymkowski

1.1%

2,978

N/A

Write-In

0.3%

760

Total Votes

283,366

1998

On November 3, 1998, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Candon (R), Robert Maynard (L), Matthew Mulligan (T), Pete Diamondstone (T) and write-in in the general election.[17]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1998

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

63.4%

136,403

Republican

Mark Candon

32.9%

70,740

Libertarian

Robert Maynard

1%

2,097

Vermont Grassroots

Matthew Mulligan

1.6%

3,464

Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

1%

2,153

N/A

Write-In

0.1%

276

Total Votes

215,133

1996

On November 5, 1996, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Susan Sweetser (R), Jack Long (D), Thomas Morse (L), Pete Diamondstone (T), Robert Melamede (T), Norio Kushi (T) and Write-In in the general election.[18]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1996

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

55.2%

140,678

Republican

Susan Sweetser

32.6%

83,021

Democratic

Jack Long

9.4%

23,830

Libertarian

Thomas Morse

1.1%

2,692

Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

0.8%

1,965

Vermont Grassroots

Robert Melamede

0.5%

1,350

Natural Law

Norio Kushi

0.3%

812

N/A

Write-In

0.1%

357

Total Votes

254,705

1994

On November 8, 1994, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Carroll (R), Jack Rogers (T), Carole Banus (T), Annette Larson (T) and Write-In in the general election.[19]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1994

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

49.9%

105,502

Republican

John Carroll

46.6%

98,523

Grassroots

Jack Rogers

1.3%

2,664

Natural Law

Carole Banus

1.4%

2,963

Liberty Union

Annette Larson

0.7%

1,493

N/A

Write-In

0.1%

304

Total Votes

211,449

1992

On November 3, 1992, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Lewis Young (D), Tom Philbin (R), Pete Diamondstone (T), Douglas Miller (T), John Dewey (T) and Write-In in the general election.[20]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1992

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sandersincumbent

57.8%

162,724

Democratic

Lewis Young

7.9%

22,279

Republican

Tom Philbin

30.9%

86,901

Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

1.3%

3,660

Freedom for LaRoche

Douglas Miller

0.7%

2,049

Natural Law/New Alliance

John Dewey

1.3%

3,549

N/A

Write-In

0.2%

464

Total Votes

281,626

1990

On November 6, 1990, Bernard Sanders won election to the United States House. He defeated Delores Sandoval (D), Peter Smith (R), Pete Diamondstone (T) and Write-In in the general election.[21]

U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1990

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Independent

Bernard Sanders

56%

117,522

Democratic

Delores Sandoval

3%

6,315

Republican

Peter Smith

39.5%

82,939

Liberty Union

Pete Diamondstone

0.9%

1,965

N/A

Write-In

0.5%

1,116

Total Votes

209,857

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Sanders is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, Sanders raised a total of $14,933,605 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 25, 2013.[22]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Sanders missed 32 of 1,933 roll call votes from January 2007 to April 2013. This amounts to 1.7%, which is equal to the median of 1.7% among current senators as of April 2013.[26]

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Sanders paid his congressional staff a total of $2,395,679 in 2011. He ranks 2nd on the list of the lowest paid Independent Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 26th overall of the lowest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Vermont ranks 45th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[27]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Sanders' net worth as of 2011 was estimated between -$18,986 and $634,996. That averages to $308,005, which is lower than the average net worth of Independent Senators in 2011 of $6,099,707. His average net worth decreased by 28.20% from 2010.[28]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Sanders' net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-56,988 and $914,996 . That averages to $429,004, which is lower than the average net worth of Independent Senators in 2010 of $1,205,273.[29]

National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Sanders ranked 32nd in the liberal rankings in 2012.[30]